Adjustable installation of door locking system

Abstract

In a drive train between a door handle having a first axis of rotation and a rotary lock part carried on a door to have a second axis of rotation, the drive train accommodating to possible misalignment of those axes, the drive train including a carrier, a rack carried by the carrier, and movable in a first lateral direction in response to door handle rotation, a gear located to rotatably drive the rotary lock part in response to rack movement in the first lateral direction, relative to the carrier, and means to adjust the position of the rack in a second lateral direction, to compensate for mis-alignment of the first and second axes.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a drive train between a door handle having a first axis of rotation and a rotary lock carried on a door having a second axis of rotation, said drive train accommodating possible misalignment of said axes, the drive train including:
 a) a carrier, 
 b) a rack movable in a first direction relative to said carrier in response to door handle rotation, 
 c) a gear having a center of rotation and configured to rotatably drive said rotary lock in response to rack movement in said first direction, 
 d) a link having a drive connection to the rack for movement of the rack in said first direction, and a lost motion connection to the rack in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction, wherein said rack is permitted to move relative to said link in said second direction by said lost motion, wherein said gear maintains engagement with said rack when said rack is permitted to move relative to said link in said second direction by said lost motion, and wherein said center of rotation of said gear is configured for being selectively positionable relative to said carrier in said second direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The drive train of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second axes are parallel and misaligned. 
     
     
       3. The drive train of  claim 1  including means on the carrier to support the rack for adjustable bodily movement laterally relative to the carrier in said second direction when said first and second axes are misaligned. 
     
     
       4. The drive train of  claim 1  wherein the link and rack have a tongue and groove connection to provide said lost motion connection. 
     
     
       5. The drive train of  claim 1  wherein the carrier includes a housing, and there being an adjustable cover adjustably attached to the housing, the adjustable cover guiding movement of the rack in said first direction, the cover having selectable lateral positioning relative to the housing. 
     
     
       6. The drive train of  claim 5  wherein said housing includes an elongated slot defined therein configured for receiving said gear, wherein said gear is configured for being selectively positioned within said elongated slot. 
     
     
       7. The drive train of  claim 6  wherein said gear is configured for being selectively positioned within said elongated slot relative to said housing in said second direction. 
     
     
       8. The drive train of  claim 1  further comprising a connector coupling the rack to the link via the carrier, wherein said connector has a first lobe engaged with said rack to provide drive motion in said first direction and a second lobe engaged with said link to provide lost motion adjustability in said second direction. 
     
     
       9. The drive train of  claim 1  further comprising a cam movable by the door handle to drive the link in said first direction. 
     
     
       10. The drive train of  claim 9  wherein said cam has laterally spaced drive lobes engagable by the link in response to cam rotation in opposite directions by the door handle, whereby the lock is responsive to open the door, in response to handle rotation clockwise or counterclockwise. 
     
     
       11. The drive train of  claim 10 , including at least one spring urging the link and cam toward neutral position, relative to the door handle position.